On deck: A rare meeting with Dice-K

Japanese import last faced the Padres in 2007

New York Mets pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka delivers the ball to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of the second game of a baseball double-header on Sunday, May 25, 2014, at Citi Field in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
The Associated Press

New York Mets pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka delivers the ball to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of the second game of a baseball double-header on Sunday, May 25, 2014, at Citi Field in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Padres at Mets

Sunday: 10:10 a.m.| Game 3 of 3

On the air: FSSD; 1090-AM; 860-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers

Padres RHP Ian Kennedy (5-7, 3.63 ERA)

Kennedy is an ideal pitcher to send to the mound as the Padres complete their NL East leg of this eight-game trip. Although he allowed five runs – tied for a season-high – over seven innings in a loss to the Phillies on Tuesday, Kennedy is 14-6 with a 3.30 ERA over 30 starts against the division since 2010. Against the Mets in particular, Kennedy is 4-1 with a 4.25 ERA in six career starts, including 1-0 with a 4.85 ERA in two starts at Citi Field. Current Mets have a .275 batting average against Kennedy, while 3B David Wright is 5-for-13 with two homers and three walks.

Mets RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-0, 2.95 ERA)

Eight years into his American career, the 33-year-old Matsuzaka’s command issues persist. He has walked 28 batters in 39 2/3 innings, most of them in relief, but he has managed to limit the damage. As a starter, Matsuzaka is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA, 13 strikeouts and nine walks in 16 1/3 innings, including six innings of one-run ball Tuesday against the Brewers. In his lone start against the Padres – in 2007 – Matsuzaka struck out nine, walked five and allowed one run on five hits in six innings in a win. Among the Padres with limited history against Matsuzaka, OF Seth Smith is 4-for-4 with a homer, a double, two RBIs and two walks. OF Carlos Quentin is 1-for-7 with a double, a walk and an RBI against Matsuzaka.